Mayor shares experience on IFR (Iron Fortified Rice) Market Trial

Mayor Tony Pep Raymundo shares Orion experience in IFR Market trial over hundreds of participant of the 35th FNRI Seminar Series held last July 8, 2009 at the FNRI Building, DOST Compound, Bicuitan, Taguig City.

This is rare opportunity for Local Chief Executive of an LGU to speak over participants composed of members of the Philippines Society of Nutritionist-Dietitian. This was made possible when Orion was chosen as pilot-site for the market trial of the Iron Fortified Rice in September 2007.Rice fortification traces back its history in Bataan in late 40’s when it served as venue to large scale pilot testing called the Bataan Rice Enrichment Experiment which led to the passage of the Rice Enrichment Law of 1957.

Mayor Raymundo expound on the challenges that Orion has experience in testing the market acceptability of the IFR. He adds that it is both a challenge and a blessing in disguise. It is a challenge because the testing was undertaken at the height of the so called rice crises. It is a blessing in disguise, as allocation of NFA rice of 1000 sacks per month was increased to 5000 sacks. Overall, he said the IFR market trial project has improved the nutritional status and changed the perception of the people of Orion towards food fortification. (EnP. Andy R. Avorque, MPDO)